Saturn moon Titan may have active ice volcanoes 土衛六號「泰坦」上可能有活冰火山

This file image provided by NASA on Oct. 10, 2007, shows geyser-like eruptions of ice particles and water vapor shooting out from the south pole of Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. 美國航太總署去年十月十日提供的這張資料照片顯示，土星衛星「泰坦」的南極噴出噴泉似的冰微粒和水蒸氣。照片：美聯社�美國航太總署

PHOTO: AP/NASA

Observations from the international Cassini spacecraft suggest Saturn’s largest moon may have active or recently active ice volcanoes.

Radar images point to flows on the surface of Titan that could result from volcanoes spewing chilled liquid from the interior, scientists reported last week.

Previous images suggested ice volcanoes existed, and scientists believe they would erupt with ammonia, methane and water instead of lava, which erupts from volcanoes on earth.

The latest data “not only indicate that volcanoes have been erupting in the recent past, but might even be going on today,” said Cassini scientist Jonathan Lunine of the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Titan is one of the few bodies in the solar system with a significant atmosphere. Scientists believe methane gas breaks up in the atmosphere and forms clouds that rain methane.